National

Bains appointment to Rogers prompts House committee to invite lobbying commissioner

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Apr, 2023 11:15 AM

OTTAWA — The lobbying commissioner is being asked to appear at a House of Commons committee to explain why the appointment of a former industry minister to an executive role at Rogers doesn't break the lobbying code.

The House of Commons ethics committee agreed Tuesday to invite the commissioner to a future meeting following a motion moved by Conservative Michael Barrett.

Former Liberal MP Navdeep Bains was the minister of industry for more than five years until he left government for the private sector in 2021.

He was among several new appointments made to Rogers executive leadership team last week after Bains cleared his new job with both the lobbying and ethics commissioners in Ottawa.

The industry minister is responsible for overseeing Canada's industrial strategy, including regulating national sectors such as telecommunications.

The motion passed in committee on Tuesday as critics warn about the optics of the appointment.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Abbotsford's MJ Mouat Secondary school was under lockdown

Investigators believe the original information provided to police was unfounded and that no active shooter was ever present at the school. Police can confirm that no suspect was ever seen on the school grounds, nor were any shots fired. Further, no students or staff were harmed in this incident.

Abbotsford's MJ Mouat Secondary school was under lockdown

Pet dog infected with avian flu in Canada

There have been no cases of humans being infected with the virus in Canada. There was one "travel-related" human case reported in early 2014, the Public Health Agency of Canada has previously said.

Pet dog infected with avian flu in Canada

B.C. $55M lotto winner plans retirement, new home

Gurney, who's from Sidney on Vancouver Island, says news of the single winning ticket purchased locally was all over the radio, so he checked his Lotto App. He says he called in his assistant to confirm the number, which she originally thought was $55,000, but then they realized it was $55 million and couldn't do anything for the rest of the day.

B.C. $55M lotto winner plans retirement, new home

B.C. nurses agreement has nurse-to-patient ratio

Nurses union president Aman Grewal says the change will not only help a strained and understaffed health-care system retain nurses, but will also improve patient outcomes. The 48,000 members of the B.C. Nurses' Union will start to vote on the new agreement on April 20.

B.C. nurses agreement has nurse-to-patient ratio

Boundary commission seeks six new B.C. ridings

Of the six newly proposed electoral districts, the commission says four should be located in Burnaby, Langley, Surrey and Vancouver. It says many ridings across Greater Vancouver continue to grow quickly and are already more than 25 per cent above the quotient that ensures fair representation by population.

Boundary commission seeks six new B.C. ridings

62 year old woman robbed by 5 unknown males: Abbotsford Police

During the robbery, the suspects presented a firearm demanding money from the victim before stealing and leaving in the victim’s vehicle. Both the victim’s stolen vehicle and the suspect vehicle used to arrive at the victim’s property have been located and seized by police. Although shaken, the victim and other occupants at the property were not injured.